Looking for an interesting bolt action. Any recommendations?

[Mystery_Milk]

I got the bolt action itch and I wanted to get something with some interesting features. I'm not looking for a target rifle that's meant to be bench rested, I'm looking for something lighter that can be fired offhand easily.

Most non-target rifles seem to just be plain Jane hunting-style rifles, and I've been looking for something different.

So far, a few things caught my eye. I really like the switch barrel concept (mainly so I can shoot relatively cheap and low-recoiling .223 at paper, since I only have easy access to 200 yard ranges, and .308 at everything else), so Savage with their barrel nut system and the TC Dimension (for obvious reasons) appeal to me. I've been thinking of putting a Savage in a light chassis and making a light precision rifle so I can customize it to my heart's content. Both of these also have a rebate right now, which makes them appealing.
I know there's also a conversion for the Remington (the Rem/Age) and it doesn't require gunsmithing like its previous iteration, but that'd probably be much more expensive than just going with Savage.

Another thing that caught my eye was the Mossberg MVP Flex system. I've heard a lot of good things about the Mossberg MVP and how accurate it is out of the factory, and the rifle's definitely one for shooting offhand. I think the Flex system is pretty cool. I like both traditional stocks and pistol-gripped stocks depending on the day, and this would give me access to both, as well as a traditional stock with an adjustable LOP. I can also install a Flex conversion kit on my 500 and share stocks between them. It's also the cheapest option out of the box; at Sportsman's Warehouse the MVP Flex in .223 and .308 is cheaper than the standard MVP for some reason (I'd probably go with the .308 if I had to pick one).

Any recommendations or comments on the rifles I mentioned?

EDIT: I should mention my budget is under $1000, so the Blaser R8 is a no go, even though I think it's an awesome design.

[sigstroker]

The Savage is not intended to have barrels switched willy-nilly. It's just easier to replace a barrel once worn out or a different caliber wanted. Besides, the scope is mounted to the receiver. You could do an AR-15 with different uppers and mount the scopes on the uppers Scout rifle style.

Or you could spend a pile of money on a Blaser R8. It's designed to switch barrels. The bolt is really cool too, basically pull it straight back.

[Kwikvette]

How much do you really want to spend?

[naimad]

http://www.blaser-usa.com/index.php?id=50&L=1

[Divernhunter]

Or get an H&R Encore rifle and switch barrels real easy. It is a single shot which some people do not care for.

[Dark Hunt]

You want a Blaser R8. True switch barrel and bolt. Left or right handed bolts in the same receiver. Scopes and mounts are located on the barrel so they remain sighted in when changing barrels.

[Mystery_Milk]

You're all right! I want a Blaser R8. Unfortunately it's a bit out of my budget. For this build (with a single barrel) I have a budget of under $1000. Cheapest Blaser configuration that I can find is $2000.

The Savage is not intended to have barrels switched willy-nilly. It's just easier to replace a barrel once worn out or a different caliber wanted. Besides, the scope is mounted to the receiver. You could do an AR-15 with different uppers and mount the scopes on the uppers Scout rifle style.

I wasn't planning on switching it willy-nilly. I was planning on mostly keeping it in .223, switching it to something else if I got access to a long-range range, or for a hunting season.

Or get an H&R Encore rifle and switch barrels real easy. It is a single shot which some people do not care for.

I actually do like the Encore. I thought it was made by Thompson Center, not H&R? I brought up the Thompson Center Dimension in my OP, which is a switch-barrel bolt-action by the same company. The Encore has the edge of having rimfire and shotgun barrels available for it, and the action can be reused in a pistol frame. But I already have a rimfire rifle and a shotgun, and I'm not big into bench-resting or hunting with pistols.

[Varg Vikernes]

Remage build requires as much gunsmithing a changing a barrel on a Savage would.

[scamp62]

I switch barrels on my savage in about 10 min, it is easy ��

[splithoof]

Blaser, as has already been mentioned.
When I attended the 2016 Gunsite Scout Rifle Conference, one of the participants used a Blaser in .308, with a red-dot sight, and did very well as expected. The straight-pull bolt action made for quick follow up shots, and had a superb trigger and fitted stock. Yes, quality has a price; and that rifle was certainly worth the cost.

[Mystery_Milk]

Remage build requires as much gunsmithing a changing a barrel on a Savage would.

Is there much benefit to a Remington action over a Savage? I know the Savage isn't a looker, but that's not a big deal to me. I know Remington's are slightly smoother, but to me (and I admit I've only handled both models at a store) the Savage action only felt worse; it didn't take any more force to actually get the bolt back.

I switch barrels on my savage in about 10 min, it is easy ��

That's the impression I had when I saw videos on people doing it. I'm not really looking to switch barrels on the fly - requiring some tools is fine.

Does anyone have experience with the TC Dimension? It's not quite Blaser-level ease of switching barrels, but it only requires hand tools unlike the Savage.

[Varg Vikernes]

Remington 700 aftermarket might be a little better than Savage, but not by much.

Probably can't go wrong with either.

[ar15barrels]

Is there much benefit to a Remington action over a Savage?

Yes.

Switching barrels on a Remington action is actually easier than on a savage as you do not need to adjust the headspace on barrels with a shoulder that have been headspace checked to your action.
It's quite common for factory 700 barrels to simply screw into a 700 action and headspace just fine.

[Thanatos2203]

Switch barrel concepts sound good on paper but I think in reality they are more of a novelty and offer less practical application. My suggestion would be to buy a .223 and a .308 separately as they serve different roles. Optics being a concern as well, do you want the same optic on a .223 as a .308, are they otherwise serving the same purpose, do you want to re zero every time you switch barrels etc? Most people buy into the idea of a switch barrel thinking it is a great idea and then don't end up ever using the caliber conversion.

[longrange1]

your not going to get a(as you call it)switch barrel on your budget....even if you buy a savage or a remington and do a remage set up...once you factor in all the parts...barrels,bolt heads..because 223 and 308 are different you are over budget.

you say you want to "customize it to my heart's content"....id suggest you pick either a 223 or a 308...and id push you if the direction of the 308 because the 308 bolt will accommodate MANY more calibers than the 223 when you decide to re-barrel it.
buy a remington over the savage because the after market is WAY more in favor of the remington.

all that said...im betting your pretty new to bolt guns so either spend the $1k on a little nicer rifle or buy a remington ADL then spend the rest on a nicer scope and ammo,get some trigger time in and up grade as you can afford to....you can not have a custom rifle on a walmart budget.